All multicultural students in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences are eligible.
Program description
The FOCUS Learning Community is a multicultural peer mentorship program that is designed to support incoming students in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. The program provides academic, social, and professional connections to aid in the successful transition to college. Students will participate in enriching activities that will help them develop a strong sense of community.
Benefits of FOCUS
Receive one-on-one guidance from a peer mentor
Successfully navigate your first-year experience
Increased opportunity for academic success
Attend fun monthly social events to build community and strong connections
Develop a strong network of peers to support you through your academic journey
Living Options
No residential options are affiliated with the program.
Signing up
Contact Audrey Kennis, kennis@iastate.edu, to learn more about the program and how to get involved.
"The best part of being in a learning community is the mentor/mentee connection that you can make and getting to know other students in the same boat as you." - College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Student
First-Year Software Engineering students are eligible to join.
Program description
The Software Engineering Learning Community is a non-residential, course-based learning community program for first year software engineering students. Students will take a set of required courses with other software engineering students. Fall semester, students will take first semester course, S E 101: Software Engineering Orientation. The goal of this course is to provide an engaging learning environment for first semester freshman to learn policies, procedures and expectations at Iowa State University. Students will find resources for personal and academic success, as well as learn about educational requirements. Students will also be enrolled in common courses and participate in structured activities.
During spring semester, students will participate in S E 166: Software Engineering Careers. The goal of this course will be for students to learn of the career opportunities for Software Engineering majors and interact with potential employers. Students will continue to take common courses and participate in activities.
Living Options
None
Signing up
Students will have an opportunity to register for this learning community during June Orientation.
All students in any major are eligible to join Leadership ISU.
Program description
Leadership ISU is a leadership focused Learning Community designed to help students develop capacity for practicing leadership on campus and impacting organizational and community-based change in our world. This community is partnered with Campus Leadership Development (LD ST 270), a course designed for students who want to get involved on campus, work with community partners, and develop a professional network to advance their career trajectories. The Student Activities Center is a critical partner providing key connections for students in this learning community to lead the amazing possibilities for students at Iowa State. This learning community provides highly interactive experiences that create opportunities for students to be leaders on campus, shape change in their communities, and establish a professional network leading to success at Iowa State and after graduation.
Campus Leadership Development (LD ST 270), is divided into two parts: 1) dynamic lectures, and 2) small group experiences within the community. Small groups are facilitated by Peer Mentors, corporate executives, and community partners to ensure a broad leadership experience. This course provides students with learning opportunities that are grounded in working with community organizations (e.g. The United Way, Boys and Girls Club, Ames Community School District, etc.) to create social change. Students who successfully complete the course will demonstrate capacity for practicing leadership and leave with a professional network directly linked to their career success. Create a foundation for an awesome Iowa State experience by focusing on leadership and joining the Leadership ISU learning community!
As a result of successfully completing this course, students will be able to demonstrate the following linked to the critical competencies and capacities for leadership effectiveness:
Knowledge and application of the leadership theory and practice for social change
Agency for service-learning and community development
Ability to articulate knowledge and behaviors for advancing personal, team, and societal values
Effective communication practices aimed at organizational and community advancement
Ability to engage in and lead Iowa State University and community-based initiatives and organizations
Ability to create professional networks for the advancement of career trajectories
Living Options
None
Signing up
Students that register for the LD ST 270 sections 1-3 will be participating in the learning community.
”Students who join learning communities have a special opportunity to connect with classmates---form study groups, serve as sounding boards for one another, and even develop lasting friendships throughout their four years at ISU. Seeing the same familiar faces in two classes every week creates a comfort level many college first-years don't experience, and finding comfort in the classroom setting inevitably leads to smoother learning and more permanent retention of vital communication skills that translate to the workplace."
Majors eligible to join
Students of any major (including Open Option) who register for English 214 and English 250.
Program description
Students will learn about the background, practical application of, techniques of, and demand for technical writing and web design/usability in the U.S. and worldwide. Through written, oral, visual, and electronic communication skills, they will complete summaries and rhetorical analyses related to topics in technical communication. They will also delve into visual website design and rhetoric and learn to analyze and evaluate visuals both in terms of their messages and in their creation as TComm deliverables. Finally, they will master argumentation, acting as mediators in debates centered around technology, its use/misuse in the workplace, and its presentation in writing and multimedia. Because all students enrolled in this section of English 250 will also be taking the same section of English 214, this will encourage a sense of community and create shared learning opportunities. Within this single learning community, students can satisfy an Arts and Humanities requirement, an ISUComm Foundations requirement, and a US Diversity requirement! Students will also gain a greater understanding of technical communications as a field, potentially adding it as a major, second major, or minor. Tech Comm was recently rated the 14th best job in the U.S. by Career Cast and other sources, meaning that majors in English and related fields are becoming more and more lucrative as the demand for strong communicators rises!
Living Options
None
Signing up
Students will have the opportunity to register for this learning community during spring registration and June Orientation.
Multicultural students (American Indian/Alaska Native, African American, Asian American, Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, Hispanic or Latino/a, Multiracial) in any College of Liberal Arts and Sciences major.
Program Description
Are you looking forward to building a community with students of color this fall?
Do you want to learn more about campus resources and opportunities to get involved?
Would you like to develop a great relationship with a current multicultural student leader who could serve as your peer mentor, and become a life-long friend?
BOLD is a fantastic opportunity for first-year and new transfer students who are striving for academic, social and professional success. The BOLD Learning Community is designed to support the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences’ diverse student population with representation and retention, and you can be a part of it!
The BOLD Learing Community offers three main components:
Orientation course in the fall and seminar course in the spring
The best part about a learning community is knowing that you’re not alone when trying to figure out how to survive as a college student – Chris M
You should join a learning community because of the networking opportunities as peers are in relevant majors and are considering related career plans…have a social network to extend beyond academic opportunities – Kyle Z.
Majors Eligible to Join
All entering transfer students and those who have recently changed their major to Kinesiology and Health or Pre-Athletic Training are automatically enrolled.
Program Description
The purpose of this learning community is to assist new students in making a successful academic, social, and personal transition to Iowa State University and the Department of Kinesiology. Students engaged in this learning community identify as transfer students or students who have recently changed their major into the department. The learning community is affiliated with the orientation course, KIN 253, which students complete during their first semester in the department. This course provides opportunities for career exploration, transfer credit evaluation, building an academic plan and utilizing campus resources. Upperclassmen Peer Mentors actively assist with the course, providing support and guidance to new students as they navigate Iowa State University and the Department of Kinesiology.
Living Options
None
Signing Up
Students will register for Kin 253 their first semester and will be part of the learning community through enrollment in this course.
"I think the best part of being in A.N.T.S. learning community is meeting people with the similar background like myself. As a non-traditional student, it makes me feel more comfortable and not so out-of-place in school."
"Joining a learning community allows us to get connected with others. As we know, college work is not always easy. A learning community can provide social and academic support when we need it. Plus, you can gain more valuable resources through a learning community."
Majors eligible to join
Majors from the College of Human Sciences
Program description
ANTS are students who are 25 years old and over -- or who are under 25, but are non-traditional, commute, are married, have children, or were in the military. Ages range from 21 to 50+ --- it is a wide spectrum of individuals! ANTS provides a support system… a way to find other students who can understand your responsibilities, which differ greatly from that of a traditional age student. It is a wonderful opportunity to connect with each other. You may attend regularly or occasionally - whatever fits your schedule.
ANTS has a room reserved for lunch and study time, as well as scheduling other activities, such as an etiquette dinner, the rock climbing wall, or lunch with your advisor. In addition, speakers discuss topics, such as adult learning styles, graduate school, the Women’s Center, or the Library.
Living Options
Non-residential
Signing up
To have your name placed on the mailing list and receive announcements, send an email message to ants@iastate.edu. ANTS also has an organization on Canvas.
Learning communities are a great way to meet new friends, adjust to college life, and learn about the college/area in general. I personally still am friends with quite a few people from my learning community that I was in during my Freshman year. I think learning communities are a great thing for everyone to join. – Cole
The best part of being in a learning community is building an academic network of students. This helps academic performance since you have people to go to for help. Also helps make school a more enjoyable place since you’ll know people wherever you go. – Meghan
Majors eligible to join
Students transferring in or continuing within the Industrial Engineering major.
Program description
The IDEAL Transitions Learning Community provides academic and social support systems for Industrial Engineering students. Students have the opportunity to take common courses and participate in social, professional, and study group experiences lead by peer mentors.
Living Options
This is a non-residential learning community.
Signing up
Students will have the opportunity to register during the Fall/Summer and Spring registration periods.
Contact
Heather Robinson 3034 Black Engineering Phone: 515-294-7797 hrobins@iastate.edu
Devna Popejoy-Sheriff 3038 Black Engineering Phone: 515-294-1603 devna@iastate.edu
Open to all majors, the emphasis of the problems and demos are based on interesting problems in Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Program description
EELC offers a great environment to know your peers and many people in the department including professors, advisors, juniors and seniors. Students will take classes together in the first terms, such as: Math 165 Chemistry 165/or 155 EE 185 Engr 101
And in the second term: Math 166 Physics 221 EE 186 EE166
The students have opportunities to work with mentors, as well as help sessions for math and chemistry and physics. The learning community emphasis team work, group projects and group activities that will enhance students social and educational lives within the univeristy. Activites are encouraged, mentors are available but not mandatory.
Living options
Students have the option to live-in with CprE learning community students in Friley Hall.
Signing up
You need to sign up after you take the math placement exam. Your academic advisor can sign you up.
Chemical Engineering majors enrolling in ChE 325 and English 314.
Program description
The Chemical Engineering & Technical Communication learning community links two of our junior-level courses: Engl 314 – Technical Communication and ChE 325 – Chemical Engineering Lab 1. This links allows for assignments to be coordinated between the two classes and provides in-depth instruction on how to write technical lab reports.
A student peer mentor, who has previously completed both courses successfully, will assist learning community members with report format requirements. This peer mentor must be capable of evaluating reports from the perspective of style requirements and clarity to ensure students are receiving a consistent message from both courses. In this format, student motivation and performance has improved by the very evident connection between report writing in principle and in the context of conveying their own results.
Living Options
None
Signing up
Sign up will take place during Registration. Please ask your adviser for details.
Registering for the learning community will allow you to register for the reserved sections of English 314. Registration for the learning community is by using a Reference number, which can be obtained from CBE Department Advisers. The learning community must be the first course entered onto your schedule to allow you to add the appropriate English 314 section. If any course is entered before the learning community, you will not be allowed to add the learning community section of English 314. Any courses on your schedule prior to enrolling in the learning community will need to be removed from your schedule, then enroll in the learning community, continue enrollment in the semester’s courses. Registering for the learning community does not automatically enroll you in English 314 or in ChE 325; you must add these courses separately.
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